Cath Lab Digest

Documentation in wound care is critical for reimbursement. To ensure payment, a comprehensive individualized plan, indicating the wound problem and goal of treatment must be in the medical record. The American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) “Guide to Physical Therapist Practice” recommends the five-stage management system; examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention.

Wound care is usually best performed by a team of experts. Your team may consist of any combination of diabetic educators, dieticians, nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, orth

Lymphedema, a disorder of the lymphatic system, affects at least 3 million Americans.1 The lymphatic system plays a role in both immune function and circulation. The system is comprised of lymphatic vessels located just under the skin and lymph nodes in areas around the neck, axilla, and groin. As the vessels transport fluid away from the tissues, waste products, bacteria, and large protein molecules are collected. The fluid is carried to the lymph nodes where the water products are degraded and eliminated, while the remaining protein-rich fluid is transported to the heart and back into circul

Education is a never-ending process of acquiring knowledge and skills and developing powers of reason and judgment. In an independent wound clinic, educational responsibilities are handled in-house. The following discussion offers insights into the way one independent wound clinic, the Archbold Center for Wound Management, Thomasville, Ga, addresses staff educational and training needs.

Background. Our wound care program consists of an outpatient clinic where patients are seen both for MD appointments as well as regularly scheduled wound care. We also consult on acute care patients with c